JP2011250210A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving job processing capability as compared with conventional job processing capability.SOLUTION: An MFP (multifunction peripheral) includes an area allocating section 20a for allocating areas to a plurality of roles in an image memory, a job processing section 20b for processing jobs by using the areas allocated by the area allocating section 20a, a mode receiving section 20c for receiving one mode from a plurality of modes which have different allocations of the areas in the image memory and are set for every kind of jobs, a non-volatile storage device 31 for storing the history of the jobs processed by the job processing section 20b, a mode selecting section 20d for selecting one mode among the plurality of modes based on the history stored in the non-volatile storage device 31, and a mode notifying section 20e for notifying a user of the mode selected by the mode selecting section 20d. The area allocating section 20a allocates the areas in the mode received by the mode receiving section 20c.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of controlling job processing.

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus that can control job processing, the priority of job processing can be changed according to the service that generated the job, and the user's preference on how to change this priority There is known a digital copy system that can be set according to the above (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-10-289074 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-320156

  However, the conventional digital copy system only controls the order of job processing in accordance with a user instruction, and there is no change in the job processing capability itself.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the job processing capability.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention uses an image memory used for image processing, an area allocating unit that allocates areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory, and the areas allocated by the area allocating unit. Job processing means for processing a job, mode storage means for storing a plurality of modes set for each type of the job, the distribution of the areas being different in the image memory, and the plurality of modes stored by the mode storage means Mode accepting means for accepting one mode from the above modes, history saving means for saving the history of the job processed by the job processing means, and the plurality of modes based on the history saved by the history saving means Mode selection means for selecting one mode from the above, and the mode selected by the mode selection means. And a mode notification means for notifying a de to the user, the area allocation means, and allocates the region by the mode accepted by the mode receiving unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention changes the distribution of the areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory in accordance with the user's instruction, so that the job processing capability can be changed according to the job type. Can be changed. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the job processing capability as compared with the conventional one. In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention notifies the user of the appropriate mode selected based on the history, so that the user can easily instruct the appropriate mode.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image memory used for image processing, an area allocating unit that allocates areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory, and the areas allocated by the area allocating unit. Processed by the job processing means, the mode storage means for storing a plurality of modes set for each type of the job, the distribution of the area being different in the image memory, and the job processing means A history storage unit that stores the history of the job; and a mode selection unit that selects one mode from the plurality of modes based on the history stored by the history storage unit. The area is allocated in the mode selected by the mode selection means.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention changes the allocation of the areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory according to the job history, so the job processing capability is changed according to the job type. can do. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the job processing capability as compared with the conventional one. In addition, since the image forming apparatus according to the present invention automatically assigns an area in an appropriate mode selected based on the history, the convenience of the user is improved as compared with a configuration in which the user is instructed about the mode. Can do.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the job processing capability as compared with the prior art.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the controller shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when notifying a mode to a user. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when a mode is instructed by a user. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the controller of MFP which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention when executing area allocation in the image memory.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes a controller 20 that controls the entire MFP 10, a non-volatile storage device 31 as history storage means of the present invention that stores a history of jobs executed by the MFP 10, and a display that displays various information. A panel 32, an operation unit 33 through which various operations are input by a user, a print engine 34 that performs printing on paper, a scanner 35 that is a reading device that reads an original and generates image data, and a PC (Personal) Connected to an external device (not shown) such as a computer (Computer) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and an external storage device such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory External memory connection unit 37 And.

  The controller 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 that is used as a work area of the CPU 21. ing. The CPU 21 is an arithmetic processing unit that operates the controller 20 by executing a program stored in the ROM 22. The RAM 23 temporarily stores a program and various data when the program is executed by the CPU 21. In the RAM 23, an image memory 23a used for image processing is secured.

  The nonvolatile storage device 31 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

  The display panel 32 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The operation unit 33 is an input device such as a button that forms a touch panel together with the display panel 32, for example.

  For example, the print engine 34 receives image data generated by the scanner 35, print data received from an external device via the network communication unit 36, or an external storage device 37 via an external memory connection unit 37. This is a printing device that prints various types of data such as stored data.

  The scanner 35 has a function capable of automatically reading an original continuously.

  For example, the network communication unit 36 transmits image data generated by the scanner 35 to an external device or receives print data to be printed by the print engine 34 from an external device. .

  For example, the external memory connection unit 37 transmits image data generated by the scanner 35 to an external storage device, and receives data to be printed by the print engine 34 from the external storage device. ing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the controller 20. In FIG. 2, among the functions of the controller 20, functions regarding the display panel 32, the operation unit 33, the print engine 34, the scanner 35, the network communication unit 36, and the external memory connection unit 37 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 20 uses an area allocation unit 20a as an area allocation unit of the present invention that allocates areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23a, and an area allocated by the area allocation unit 20a. Thus, it functions as a job processing unit 20b as job processing means of the present invention for processing a job.

  Examples of areas allocated by the area allocation unit 20a include “scanner work memory”, “reception data processing memory”, “edit processing memory”, and “printer drawing memory”. The area allocated by the area allocation unit 20a is not limited to the one shown here.

  The “scanner work memory” is a buffer memory area that plays a role of absorbing a speed difference between an input processing speed in the job processing unit 20 b related to reading by the scanner 35 and an editing or output processing speed in the job processing unit 20 b. The processing speed at which the job processing unit 20b reads an image by the scanner 35 is higher than the processing speed at which the job processing unit 20b edits the image data read by the scanner 35 or the job processing unit 20b stores the image data in the nonvolatile storage device 31. fast. Therefore, the job processing unit 20b needs to use the scanner work memory when reading by the scanner 35.

  The “reception data processing memory” is a buffer memory that absorbs a speed difference between an input processing speed in the job processing unit 20b related to reception via the network communication unit 36 and an editing or output processing speed in the job processing unit 20b. It is an area. The processing speed at which the job processing unit 20b receives data from an external device through the network communication unit 36 is such that the job processing unit 20b edits the data received by the network communication unit 36, and the job processing unit 20b has the nonvolatile storage device 31. It is faster than the processing speed to memorize. Therefore, the job processing unit 20b needs to use a reception data processing memory when performing reception via the network communication unit 36.

  The “edit processing memory” is a memory area for storing image data when the job processing unit 20b edits the image data by rotating or overlaying the image data. Therefore, the job processing unit 20b needs to use an editing processing memory when editing image data.

  The “printer drawing memory” is a memory area having a role of storing print data received from an external apparatus when the job processing unit 20b interprets the print data to generate drawing data. Therefore, the job processing unit 20b needs to use a printer drawing memory when interpreting print data.

  Here, the ROM 22 stores a plurality of modes set for each type of job with different area allocation in the image memory 23a, and constitutes a mode storage means of the present invention. As a mode stored in the ROM 22, the distribution of areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23 a is referred to as a copy job (hereinafter referred to as “Copy job”) rather than a print job (hereinafter referred to as “PRN job”). ) “Copy priority mode”, which is a distribution suitable for the PRN job, and the distribution of areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23a are more suitable for the PRN job than the copy job, and the image memory There is a “multi-job mode” in which the distribution of areas allocated to a plurality of roles in 23a is a distribution that is equally suitable for both Copy jobs and PRN jobs.

  Here, the copy job is a job for printing image data generated by the scanner 35 with the print engine 34. The PRN job is a job for printing print data received from an external device via the network communication unit 36 or data received from an external storage device via the external memory connection unit 37 by the print engine 34. It is.

  In the “copy priority mode”, for example, the maximum number of copies that can be created at one time in a copy job is higher than “print priority mode” and “multi-job mode”. The maximum number of documents that can be read continuously is higher than “print priority mode” and “multi-job mode”, and image composition that cannot be performed in “print priority mode” and “multi-job mode” in copy jobs There are advantages such as editing operations. The “copy priority mode” is a mode in which, for example, “scanner work memory” and “edit processing memory” are more allocated in the image memory 23a than “print priority mode” and “multi-job mode”.

  In the “print priority mode”, for example, the size of a document that can be printed in a PRN job is higher than those in the “copy priority mode” and “multi-job mode”, and the printing speed in the PRN job is “copy priority mode” and “multi-job mode” There is an advantage that the size of the job that can hold the printing in the PRN job is higher than that of the “copy priority mode” and the “multi-job mode”. The “print priority mode” is, for example, a mode in which “reception data processing memory” and “printer drawing memory” are more allocated in the image memory 23a than “copy priority mode” and “multi-job mode”.

  The “multi-job mode” can exhibit performance that is lower than the “copy priority mode” in the copy job but higher than the “print priority mode”, and is lower than the “print priority mode” in the PRN job, but “copy priority mode”. The performance which is more than “mode” can be exhibited. In the “multi-job mode”, for example, “received data processing memory” and “printer drawing memory” are allocated more than “copy priority mode” in the image memory 23a, and “scanner work memory” and “edit processing memory” are allocated. This mode is more allocated than the “print priority mode”.

  The controller 20 receives one mode from a plurality of modes stored in the ROM 22 as a mode receiving unit 20c as a mode receiving unit of the present invention, and selects one mode from a plurality of modes based on the history stored in the nonvolatile storage device 31. A mode selection unit 20d as a mode selection unit of the present invention for selecting a mode, and a mode notification unit 20e as a mode notification unit of the present invention for notifying a user of the mode selected by the mode selection unit 20d. It has become.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  When the job processing unit 20b processes a Copy job or a PRN job, the job processing unit 20b stores the history of the processed job in the nonvolatile storage device 31. Here, the history stored in the nonvolatile storage device 31 includes job types such as a Copy job and a PRN job.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when notifying the user of the mode.

  The MFP 10 executes the process shown in FIG. 3 at a predetermined time. This time can be arbitrarily set such as every week or every month.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the mode selection unit 20d of the controller 20 selects one mode from a plurality of modes based on the history stored by the nonvolatile storage device 31 (S51). For example, the mode selection unit 20d compares the number of job processes in a predetermined period such as one week or one month for each job type, and when the number of copy job processes is greater than the number of PRN job processes, the user If the job that is mainly used is determined to be a copy job, the “copy priority mode” is selected, and the PRN job processing count is larger than the copy job processing count, it is mainly used by the user. It is determined that the current job is a PRN job, and “print priority mode” is selected. The mode selection unit 20d determines that the copy job and the PRN job are used to the same extent by the user when the copy job processing count and the PRN job processing count are not equal to a predetermined count. “Mode” may be selected. Note that the standard for the mode selection unit 20d to select a mode based on the history may be a standard other than the above-described standard. For example, the mode selection unit 20d may use the number of printed sheets for each job type as a reference for selecting the mode, in addition to the job processing count or instead of the job processing count. .

  Next, the mode notification unit 20e of the controller 20 notifies the user such as the administrator of the MFP 10 of the mode selected by the mode selection unit 20d (S52). As the notification method, for example, there are a method of notifying the user's PC by communication means such as an e-mail, and a method of displaying on the display panel 32. Further, the content of the notification may be a notification of the mode directly such as “copy priority mode”, “print priority mode”, “multi-job mode”, or “the frequency of use of Copy jobs. The mode may be notified indirectly such as “high”, “the frequency of use of the PRN job is high”, or “the frequency of use of the Copy job and the PRN job is similar”. The user can recognize that the “copy priority mode” is appropriate when notified that “the frequency of use of copy jobs is high”, and “print” when notified that “the frequency of use of PRN jobs is high”. It can be recognized that “priority mode” is appropriate, and “multi-job mode” can be recognized as appropriate when notified that “the usage frequency of Copy jobs and PRN jobs is comparable”.

  The process shown in FIG. 3 by the controller 20 allows the user to recognize an appropriate mode according to the usage status of the MFP 10. Therefore, the user can instruct the MFP 10 to change to an appropriate mode. As an instruction method, a method of instructing from the operation unit 33, a command such as Web, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), PJL (Printer Job Language), WSDL (Web Services Description Language) communication unit, or the like is used. There is a method of instructing from an external device via 36.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when the mode is instructed by the user.

  When the mode is instructed by the user, the mode receiving unit 20c receives the mode instructed by the user from a plurality of modes stored in the ROM 22, as shown in FIG. 4 (S61).

  Next, the area allocation unit 20a allocates an area in the image memory 23a in the mode received by the mode reception unit 20c (S62).

  Then, the MFP 10 is restarted after the processing shown in FIG. 4 to enable the change by the area allocation unit 20a. Thereafter, the job processing unit 20b processes the job using the image memory 23a whose area distribution has been changed.

  As described above, since the MFP 10 changes the allocation of the areas assigned to the plurality of roles in the image memory 23a according to the user's instruction, the job processing capability is changed according to the type of job. can do. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve the job processing capability as compared with the conventional one.

  In addition, since the MFP 10 notifies the user of the appropriate mode selected based on the history, the user can easily be instructed of the appropriate mode.

(Second Embodiment)
First, the configuration of the MFP as the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  Among the configurations of the MFP according to the present embodiment, the same configurations as those of the MFP 10 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the MFP 10 and will be described in detail. Is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions of the controller 120 of the MFP according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, functions related to the display panel 32, the operation unit 33, the print engine 34, the scanner 35, the network communication unit 36, and the external memory connection unit 37 among the functions of the controller 120 are omitted.

  The configuration of the MFP according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration in which the MFP 10 includes a controller 120 (see FIG. 5) instead of the controller 20 (see FIG. 2).

  The controller 120 has the same hardware configuration as that of the controller 20, but the program stored in the ROM 22 is different.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the controller 120, the controller 20 includes an area allocation unit 20a (see FIG. 2), a mode reception unit 20c (see FIG. 2), and a mode notification unit 20e (see FIG. 2). First, an area allocation unit 120a as an area allocation unit of the present invention that allocates areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23a, and an allocation time setting unit 120b that sets the execution time of area allocation in the image memory 23a. The configuration is similar to the configuration provided.

  Next, the operation of the MFP according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The user can instruct the MFP according to the present embodiment when to execute area allocation in the image memory 23a. As an instruction method, there are a method of instructing from the operation unit 33, a command of Web, SNMP, PJL, etc., a method of instructing from an external device via the network communication unit 36 using WSDL or the like. The time can be arbitrarily set such as every week or every month.

  The allocation time setting unit 120b sets the time instructed by the user when the time of execution of the area allocation in the image memory 23a is instructed by the user. Then, the allocation time setting unit 120b causes the controller 120 to execute the process shown in FIG. 6 at the set time. If the function of the allocation time setting unit 120b is disabled, the controller 120 does not execute the process shown in FIG. 6 even if the set time comes.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP according to the present embodiment when executing area allocation in the image memory 23a.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the mode selection unit 20 d of the controller 120 selects one mode from a plurality of modes based on the history stored in the nonvolatile storage device 31 as in S <b> 51 (see FIG. 3) ( S151).

  Next, the area allocation unit 120a allocates an area in the image memory 23a in the mode selected by the mode selection unit 20d (S152).

  Then, the MFP according to the present embodiment validates the change by the area allocation unit 120a by being restarted after the processing shown in FIG. Thereafter, the job processing unit 20b processes the job using the image memory 23a whose area distribution has been changed.

  As described above, the MFP according to the present embodiment changes the distribution of areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23a according to the job history, so that the job processing capability can be increased. It can be changed according to the type. Therefore, the MFP according to the present embodiment can improve the job processing capability as compared with the conventional one.

  In addition, since the MFP according to the present embodiment automatically allocates an area in an appropriate mode selected based on the history, the convenience for the user is improved as compared with a configuration in which the user is instructed about the mode. be able to.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an MFP in each of the above-described embodiments, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a copier, a printer, or a facsimile machine.

  The modes of the image memory 23a are “copy priority mode”, “print priority mode”, and “multi-job mode” in each of the above-described embodiments, but are not limited thereto. For example, the mode of the image memory 23a may include a “facsimile priority mode” in which the distribution of areas allocated to a plurality of roles in the image memory 23a is a distribution suitable for a facsimile job.

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
20a Area allocation unit (area allocation means)
20b Job processing unit (job processing means)
20c mode reception part (mode reception means)
20d Mode selection unit (mode selection means)
20e Mode notification unit (mode notification means)
22 ROM (mode storage means)
23a Image memory 31 Non-volatile storage device (history storage means)
120a Area allocation unit (area allocation means)

Claims (2)

Image memory used for image processing, area allocating means for allocating areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory, and job processing means for processing a job using the areas allocated by the area allocating means And a mode storage means for storing a plurality of modes set for each type of job, and a single mode is received from the plurality of modes stored by the mode storage means. A mode reception unit, a history storage unit that stores the history of the job processed by the job processing unit, and a mode that selects one mode from the plurality of modes based on the history stored by the history storage unit And a mode for notifying the user of the mode selected by the mode selection unit. And a de notification means,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the area allocating unit allocates the area in the mode received by the mode receiving unit. Image memory used for image processing, area allocating means for allocating areas to a plurality of roles in the image memory, and job processing means for processing a job using the areas allocated by the area allocating means And a mode storage means for storing a plurality of modes set for each type of the job with different areas in the image memory, and a history storage means for storing the history of the job processed by the job processing means And mode selection means for selecting one mode from the plurality of modes based on the history saved by the history saving means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area allocating unit allocates the area in the mode selected by the mode selecting unit.

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